Portable shower bath



March 25, 1941. H. F.Mcc| ENDoN 2.236.376 I PORTABLE SHOWER BATH Filed Sept. 16, 1940 vn rl /5 l@ -Z /4. 51% z I E 44 5 5 /IZ mi" //..nl1' ,.,nnqg

H 1NVENT0R HARRY -E-NCCLENDON BY v Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES [PATENT y 'ol-Flers 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portable shower baths.

Hotel and rooming house proprietors Iind that the public demands a shower bath and that rooms 5 provided with shower baths rent more readily and at a higher rate, than similar roomsv provided with tubs.

In many hotels and rooming houses, shower baths have not been provided and to equip such rooms with shower baths connected with the plumbing and with the sewer involves a great expense per room which oftentimes makes it prohibitive.

It is the object of this invention to produce a portable shower bath that can readily vbe connected with the hot and cold water faucets already provided in the rooms, and which shall be provided with means for elevating the water so as to discharge the used water into a wash basin or sink, thereby obviating the necessity of providing a sewer connection from each of the shower baths.

I am aware that portable shower baths have been suggested which, however, are so constructed that the used water is discharged through a hose which extends through a door or other opening and depends on gravity for producing a flow or in which the drain from the shower bath is connected directly with the sewer system. Such shower baths are expensive to install and cannot be transferred from one room to the other, which makes the provision of such auxiliary baths prohibitive for most hotels and rooming houses.

It is an object of this invention to produce a portable shower bath comprising a tank having a drain and having means for enclosing the bather and for providing a spray of water for the shower. The drain, instead of being connected with the 40' sewer is connected with the intake of apump or other water elevating device, such as an injector syphon which raises the water to any desiredelevation, whereby the discharge outlet from such water elevating device can be con. nected directly with a wash basin or bath tub by means of a exible hose.

Another object of this invention is to produce a portable bath of a type indicated in which the water tank shall be provided with a hinged lateral 55 duce the size to a minimum duringtransportaextension along one side that can be folded into tion and during such times as the bath is not in use.

Another object of this invention is to produce a portable bath of the type indicated of such construction that it can readily be knocked down for shipment and be readily re-erected, whereby a large saving in freight can be had over portable shower baths that are not so constructed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shower bath of the type described in which the water for the spray is controlled by a valve so situated that it may be operated by the person using the bath and which shall be so associated with the water elevating device that the latter will be sure to function whenever the spray is operating, thereby assuring that the tank will not overflow. The above and other objectsthat may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained bymeans of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which one form of the invention has been illustrated, and in which: f

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shower bath looking in the direction of arrow I, in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a side elevation' looking in the direction of arrow 2, in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on lines 3 3, Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, transverse section taken on line 4 4, Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5 5, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail showing in a general manner the water elevating means comprising a sy-V phon or injector;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 1 1, Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8 8, Figure 7.

In the drawing reference numeral IIJ designates the floor of a room on which the portable shower bath is supported. The bath consists of a tank of substantially square or rectangular shape, the front wally of which has been designated by reference numeral Il. The end walls have been'designated by reference numerals I2 and the rear wall by reference numeral I3. The tank may be made from boards and lined with sheet metal or it may be made entirely from sheet metal or from any other suitable material. Secured to each corner of the tank is an angle iron I4. The angle irons may be made from aluminum and will therefore be light and strong. The upper ends of the angle irons are connected by Cil means of a rod I5 on which is slidably mounted a number of rings I6 that support a curtain l1 made from some water proof material such as a rubber sheet of the type .sold under the trade name of pliofilm The angle iron supports may be connected by one or more rods I8 extending from the front angle irons around the rear of the frame. In order to brace the frame a rearwardly extending bracket I 9 may be provided and to the rear of this the lower end of a brace member 28 may be connected by a bolt or other means 2 l. The brace member 20 forms with the two rear corner angle irons a triangular structure as shown in Figure 2. In addition to this bracing means, other braces, like those indicated by reference numeral 22, may be provided, if desired.` The bottom of the tank is provided with a drain opening 23 that communicates with the lower end of a drain pipe 24 when the water elevating means embodies a. syphon or injector like that illustrated in Figure 6. If an electric pump is employed for elevating the water, the drain 2li communicates with a shallow tank whose bottom has been designated by reference numeral 25, and a centrifugal pump 25 is secured to the bottom 25 with its intake ports 2l in communication with the compartment whose bottom is designated by reference numeral 25. The outer wall 21 of the pump compartment should extend to the top of the tank as shown most clearly in Figure 4. An electric motor 23 is supported by the vertical angle irons M and is provided with a shaft 29 that connects the motor to the mpeller of the centrifugal pump. The outlet port of the pump is connected t the n lower end of a hose 30 which conveys the water to a wash bowl 3l or other xture connected with the sewer. Water for the spray is conducted to the spray head 32 by means of a pipe 33 which is secured to the frame and in which is positioned a globe valve 34 which serves to control the flow of water to the spray head. The valve is controlled by means of a handle 35 so positioned that it is accessible from the front of the cabinet. The water is supplied to the valve by means of a pipe Si.; that is connected to a hose 31 which is provided with a Y fitting 38 from which a hose 39 extends to the hot water faucet i0 and a similar hose lli connects with the cold water faucet 62. When the valve 34 is open, water will be conveyed directly to the sprinkler head and must be properly proportioned by means of faucets lli) and 42 so as to get the desired temperature.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 6 in which the valve has been shown broken away, it will be observed that the chamber 43 is connected with the nozzle lll of an injector syphon 5.5. The intake of this syphon is connected with a drain 23 by a pipe 24 and the outlet from the syphon is connected to a hose 35i that conveys the water to the bowl 3l.

It will now be apparent that whenever the faucets and 42 are open, water will flow into chamber 43 and through the nozzle 44, thereby setting up the suction in pipe 24. The water that is discharged into the hose 3l iiows to the water basin as clearly shown in Figure 2. When valve Bfi'is open water will flow to the sprinkler head as above described. For the purpose of providing more room within the cabinet an extension 46 has been provided and this is connected with the front wall il of the tank by means of hinges 4l. The ends of extension 45 are preferably bent upwardly at right angles as indicated by reference numeral t8 and the front edge is bent vertically as designated by reference numeral 49. The inner ends of the end members i8 are bent laterally as shown at E! so as to engage the iianges of the corner angle irons It. The upturned ends 48 and the outer upturned edge i9 serve to hold the covering l'l from sliding out and assures that any water deposited on the inner surface thereof will be returned to the tank.

Referring now to Figure fi, reference numeral 35 designates the handle of valve 34 and to this a switch arm 5| has been frictionally secured. This switch arm has been shown as forming the movable part of an electric switch whose stationary contact has been designated by reference numeral 52. The source of electricity has been indicated by a battery 53 which is connected to one terminal of the motor by a conductor 54, the other terminal of the battery is connected with contact 52 by means of a wire 55 and switch arm 5| is connected with the other motor terminal by means of a conductor 55. The parts are so arranged that when the valve 311 is open, the switch contacts 5I and 52 engage so as to close the circuit to the motor, thereby assuring that the motor will always operate whenever the valve is open. A stop 5'! limits the movement of switch arm 5| and its frictional connection with the stem of handle :iii permits the latter to be turned to any extent. The switch arrangement just described is diagrammatic only and intended to illustrate a switch mechanism controlled by the operation of valve 3d and instead of the specific mechanism shown any other suitable mechanically equivalent device may be substituted.

In the embodiment illustrated, the shower bath cab-inet has been shown as provided with a water proof curtain l'l which is believed to be a desirable construction, but it is to be understood that other specifically different material may be employed for this purpose as, for example, the walls may be made from linoleum or metal, plywood or any other suitable material andapp-licant does not want to be limited to a curtain for this purpose.

It is apparent from the above description that a shower bath cabinet constructed in the manner shown and described can be readily transported and can be moved from room to room, if desired, and that it can be quickly connected with the hot and cold water that is provided in connection with the wash bowl 3|. The hose 30 is merely so positioned that it discharges the water into the bowl 3l and therefore no expensive connections with the sewer becomes necessary. Where an electric motor is employed, suitable connections must, of course, be made with the lighting circuit, but this can be effected by means of a plug and extension cord in the usual manner.

The iexible hose 39 and 4I are provided with clamping means 58 that positively secure them to the faucets li and ft2. Supported on the bottom of the tank is a perforated board 59 that is spaced from the bottom and serves as a support for the bather.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A portable shower bath comprising, a shallow tank, frame members secured to the tank and extending upwardly therefrom, a drain board hinged to the upper edge of one side of the tank, said drain board being movable into a position in which it extends beyond the outer surface of the side, the ends of the drain board having upwardly extending end walls, and means comprising outwardly extending stops for engaging the adjacent frame members to limit the outward movement of the drain board.

attached to the support and its upper end con? nected with the frame members adjcent their upper ends whereby a stress trangles Iormed,'

which resists relative movement between the tank and the frame in one plane. l

HARRY F. MCCIVJENDON. 

